Sand-trap.



E. LYARD & W. E. DAVIS SAND TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1915.

Patented July 20, 1915.

lnvento'rqs Witnesses Attorneys coLpMmA PLANUORAPH C0,.WASHINDTON, n. c.

EDWARD J'. YARD AND WHITNEY E. DAVIS, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

SAND-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patehted {11y 20,1915,

' Application filed'March 22,1915, Serial N 0. 16,196.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD J. YARD and WHITNEY E. DAVIS, citizens of the United States, residing atKnoxville, in the county of Knox, State of Tennessee, have invented the utility and efficiency thereof, the trapincluding novel means for closing off the sand duct or passage from the air duct or passage, when the device is idle, and in order that the sand may not flow backwardly into the airpassage or duct.

Another specific object of the invention is the provision of an air strainer or screen assembled with the trap in a unique manner, whereby it will efi'ectively serve its purpose, and whereby the strainer or screen may be readily applied to and removed from the trap. v

A further object of the invention is the provision in a sand trap, of a valve mechanism between the air and sand passages'or ducts, and of such construction as to be normally closed, and to be automatically openedwhen the air or pressure fluid is turned on, in order that when the device is idle, the sand cannot'flow backwardly into the air passage or duct.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit ofthe'invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein the figure is a median sectional view of the improved sand trap.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a body or casting 1, which is provided with a sand inlet port 2, a sand outlet port 3, an inverted V-shaped sand passage or duct 4 between the inlet and outlet ports and forming the trap, and holes 5 for the passage of bolts or other securing elements therethrough to fasten the body to the sand box or other support, whereby the inlet port 2 is in communication with the sand box to receive the sand, and so that the sand will flow into the lower portion of the trap passage or duct 4. A cap 6 is also threaded upon the body 1 and serves as a closure for the upper or elbow portion of the passage or duct 4, the cap 6 having a babbitt liner 6 in the line of the portion 4 of the passage or duct 4 which extends upwardly from the inlet port 2. The liner or insert 6 is disposed above the downwardly projecting portion 4 of the passage 4 and serves as a deflector for the sand, as will hereinafter more vided with an inclined bore 7 extending from the lower end of the portion 4 ofthe passage 4 in alinement or coaxial with the said portion 4 The bore 7 extends tothe exterior of the body 1 and is of smaller diameter than the portion 4 of the passage 4. The body l has an annular air chamber is provided with a counter bore or enlarged socket 10 at the upper end of the bore or passage9, and there is a tapered recess or pocket 11 between the lower or restricted portion of the bore 9 and the counter bore 10. The pocket or recess 11 is tapered and has its lower end rounded, and the pocket or recess 11 is of smaller diameter than the counter borelO and is of larger diameter than the bore 9. A bore 12 extends radially from the counter bore 10 and is preferably threaded for the reception of the air or pressure fluid pipe. A plug or cap 13 is threaded into the counter bore l ffor normally closing the sa1ne,'an d is located above the bore 12 so as not to obstruct or close the same. j

The bore 12, counter bore 10, pocket 11, and bore 9 provide the air inlet passage or duct communicating with the lower or receiving end of the trap passageor duct 4 adjacent the sand inlet 2, and this air passage or duct is provided with a strainer for straining the air. The strainer embodies a ring 1": seated upon the shoulder or ledge 15 formed between the counter bore 10 and pocket 11 and a screen 16 has its edge secured to the ring 14: and is of a contour to flt snugly within the pocket 11. Thus, the air in flowing into the trap passes through the screen 16, for straining the air, and to prevent particles being carried beyond the strainer, which would be liable to render the device inoperative. The strainer may be readily inserted when the plug 13 is removed, and when the plug is removed, the strainer when in place can be readily withdrawn out of the counter bore 10. The plug 13 is provided with inwardly projecting pins or fingers 17 which contact with the ring 1 1 to hold the strainer seated when the arts are in place.

An automatic air valve is provided between the sand passage or duct 4 and the air passage or duct, and-to this end a tubular valve casing or sleeve 18 is threaded or othern isesecured within the bore 7 so as to be in alinement or coaxial withthe portion a of the sand passage a. The tubular valvecasing 18 is preferably threaded into the bore 7 from within the passage 4E, and the inner end of the casing 18 is provided with an enlargement or head 19 to limit the outward movement'of the casing 18, and to provide a means for'the engagement of a wrench whereby the casing may be readily threaded into and out of engagement with the trap body 1. his evident, at this point, that the air valve is accessible through the portion 4 of the passage 4: when the cap 6 is removed. The casing 18 is provided with inlet apertures 20 lying within the air chamber 8, whereby the air can enter the valve casing through the said apertures. A plug or member 21 is threaded or otherwise engaged into the inner or discharge end of the casing 18, and provides an outlet nozzle for the valve which is directed longitu'di-nally into the portion 4 of the passage 42 toward the deflector 6 at the opposite end of the said portion 4 The outlet'nozzle 21 has a restricted aperture or duct22 extending therethrough, and is provided with tapered valve seat23 atthe lower end of the plug or nozzle. Apiston 24: is slidable within the casing 18 below the apertures 20 and is provided with an upwardly or inwardly projecting stem 25 having its free end portion reduced, as'at 26, to enter the aperture 22 of the plug or'nozzle 21, and the stem 25 is provided with a tapered portion 27 arranged to bear against the seat 25 for" effectively closing the passage through the valve-when thepiston' 24 is moved inwardly or upwardly adjacentthe apertures 20'.

As a means for normally seating the neodle valve carried by the free end of the stem 25, there is provided a coiled wire eX- pansion spring 28 disposed within the lower end '29 of the casing 18, and having its upper or inner end received by a socket or recess 30 formed in the piston 24. The downward movement of the piston 24: is limited by and the spring 28 is held within the portion 29 by means of an apertured plug 31 threaded or otherwise engaged into the lower end of the casing 18. The aperture of the plug or member 31 allows the air to flow inwardly and upwardly therethrough when the piston 24 is reciprocated. The spring28 being disposed. below or under the piston 24 serves to elevate or move the piston inwardly for seating the needle valve.

In operation, when the air is turned off, the reduced end portion or needle valve 26 will be seated against the plug or nozzle 21, under the influence of the spring 28 which forces thepiston 24 inwardly or upwardly to a point adjacent but slightly below the apertures 20. This will prevent the sand within the trap from flowing backwardly into the air passage or duct, since it is especially desirable that the sand be not allowed to flow back through the nozzle 21, which would be liable to plug or clog up the nozzle. Now, when the air is turned on, it will flow through the air passage and into the casing 18 through the apertures 20, and the tendency for the pressure fluid to expand within the valve casing, will force the piston 24 downwardly or outwardly against the tension of the spring 28, and this will retract the needle valve from the nozzle 21, to allow the air to enter the sand passage 4. The air will be discharged in a jet or stream longitudinally through the portion 4 of the passage 4 and against the deflector 6, and will. draw the sand upwardly therewith so that it impinges against the deflector 6 and then drops through the portion 4Q of the passage 4iand outlet 3 to the rail or rails. It will be understood that the inlet 2 of the body 1 may be connected to the sand box in any suitable manner, while the sand pipe leading to the rail or rails may be readily connected to the body 1 to communicate with the outlet 3. As soon as the air is shut ofl, the needle valve will immediately close automatically.

From the foregoing taken in connection with the drawing, it is believed that the advantages and attributes of the present invention will be obvious to those versed in the art, without further comment being necessary, it being noted that the present device is applicable fordelivering the sand by air or pressure fluid, which is much more satisfactory than the delivery of the sand by gravitation.

Although "the invention is illustrated and embodied in a single sand trap, the structure may be duplicated to provide a double sand trap, and since this is a mere duplication, a detail description or illustration thereof is not thought necessary.

The screen 16 will catch the particles carried with the air to the sand trap, and the plug or cap 13 may be removed from time to time, so that the strainer or screen can be removed and emptied, which is a desirable feature of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the character described, a body having a sand passage and an air passage leading thereto, said air passage including a bore extending from the sand passage and having a counter bore, there being a bore leading to said counter bore, a removable cap for closing said counter bore, and

a strainer seated in said counter bore between said bores. I

2. In a device of the character described, a body having a sand passage and an air passage leading thereto, said air passage including a bore extending from the sand passage and having a counter bore, there being a bore leading to said counter bore, a removable cap for closing said counter bore, and a strainer seated in said counter bore between said bores, the strainer and cap hav ing cooperating means whereby the strainer is held in place by the cap.

3. In a device of the character described, a body having a sand passage and an air passage extending thereto, said air passage including a bore having a counter bore, there being a pocket between said bore and counter bore and a second bore extending from the counter bore, a detachable cap for closing said counter bore, and a ring seated in the counter bore and having a screen fitting in said pocket.

45. In a device of the character described, a body having a sand passage and an air passage extending thereto, said air passage including a bore having a counter bore, there being a pocket between said bore and counter bore and a second bore extending from the counter bore, a detachable cap for closing said counter bore, and a ring seated in the counter bore and having a screen fitting in said pocket, the ring and cap having co- 5. In a device of the character described, a

body having a sand passage and a pressure fluid passage extending thereto, the body having a nozzle for directing the pressure fluid into the sand passage, a piston mounted for reciprocation within the body and having a needle valve cooperable with said nozzle for normally closing the same, the pressure fluid passage communicating with the space between said nozzle and piston, and a spring for normally seating the needle valve.

6. In a device of the character described, a body having a sand passage and a pressure fluid passage, a tubular member secured within the body between the said passages and having a nozzle directed into the sand passage and an inlet between its ends in communication with the pressure fluid passage, and a piston slidable within the tubular member and having a needle valve cooperating with said nozzle to normally close the same, the piston being arranged to move away from said nozzle when the pressure fluid is admitted into said tubular member.

7. In a device of the character described, a body having a sand passage and a pressure fluid passage, a tubular member secured within said body between the said passages, a nozzle engaged within one end of said tubular member and projecting into the sand passage, the tubular member having an inlet between its ends in communication with the pressure fiuid passage, a piston slidable within the tubular, member and having a needle valve cooperable with said nozzle to normally close the same, the inlet of the tubular member being located between the nozzle and piston, and a coiled wire expansion spring disposed in the tubular member and bearing against the piston to normally seat the needle valve against the nozzle.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as'our own, we have hereto aiiixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD J. YARD. WHITNEY E. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

B. H. SUTTON, T. B. JONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

